Waterbury evening Democrat., 1887-12-23
|,HIGGINSON'S ADVENTURES !
THE REVEREND ROUE WHO WAS
 ASSAllED BY CAPT. DUNNE.

AssAILED BY CAPT. DUNNE.
 How a Brazen Adventurcr Won the Heart
 and Purse sf an Elderly Lady of Fortune.
 A BiSamist Whom Lord Salisbury May
 be Induced to Save.
 LONDON, Dec. 23-Tbe shooting affair in Dublin is attracting good deal of attention here because of the high social position of some of the people engaged in it. The Rev. Henry Whyte Melville, who betrayed Capt. Dunne's daughter and narrowly escaped death at the hands of the infuriated father, has no blue blood in his veins. He formerly rejoiced in the unromantic patronymic of Higginson, and worked as a journalist for some time in Dublin, and also, it is said, in America. Later he entered the service of the Irish customs, married, and started rais- ing family. Mrs. Whyte Melville was the daughter of Lord Bateman, granddaughter by marriage of the fifth duke of Leeds. and cousin of no less a person than Lord Sails bury. Her daughter by her late husband is married to Viscount Massereene, peer of the realm. How Higginson became acquainted with lady so immeasurably above him in the social scale is at present somewhat of mystery, but Mrs. Melville was elderly, vain,
 
 just the sort of a woman to fall a prey to any handsome, interruptions and fairly young adventurer.
 Higginson filled these conditions to the let ter, and as an excuse for the old widow it must be put on record that since he mysteri- ously disappeared from Dublin he had ac- quired the additional attraction of clerk ship in holy orders. In other words, he had become an Episcopal clergyman, having been ordained in South Africa after short and exciting career, during which he was more familiar with taverns and gambling hells than with churches. Mrs. Melville became enamored of Higginson, who she supposed was single man. As matter of fact he had wife living, and had deserted her and her children after vain and infamous attempt to ob- tain a divorce. Higginson had no difficulty in ascertaining the social stand ing and pecuniary position of the lovelorn7 old widow. She had not long be- fore inherited something like 950O, 900 under the will of the late Duk of Leeds. The Vi- countess Massereene heard of her mothers infatuation and passionately protested In vain she invoked the memory of her idolized dead father. In vain the family influence from Lord Salisbury downward was brought to bear to break off the threatened misal- iance. The strangely assorted couple were married, Higginson taking the name of Whyte Melville in order to evade certain awkward clauses in the Duke of Leeds will.
 A few days afterward Viscountess Mas sereene vented her grief and indignation in form of a memoriam notice published in the obituary column of all the newspapers in which, after reciting in most pathetic terms the virtues of her late father. she concluded with the significant words: "He was the last of his race" But Higginson is not a sensi- tive man and he found ample consolation, if he needed any, in the widows 940, 900 year and her lovely bankers balance, of which he quickly proceeded to make the freest use, although Mrs. Melville had on the wedding day settled e125, ,uOO on him.
 Higginson tired Of his wifes mature charms and turned his baneful eyes on Miss Dunne, pretty woman of 24, who lived with his wife as half friend, half companion. She was of good birth, and her wonderful accomplishments included fluent knowl- edge of French, German and Italian. Her father, Capt. Dunne, had been in reduced circumstances, hence her dependent position. Dunne is related to the best families in Ire land, and the position of governor of one of her majesty's prisons. it must be remembered, is in this country con- sidered dignified one. Poor Ghaz Power, the gallant young journalist, who was Goydor's trusted comrade during the long siege of Khartoum, and who, with Col. Stewart, perished in a vain effort to break through the Mahdi's grim cordon and join hands with Wolse!ey's ad- vancing columns, was the dearly loved nephew of Dunne. Notwithstanding his family connections, Dunne was good Ma tionalist, and enjoyed the friendship of Isaac ID
 found favor in Miss Dunne's eyes, and he soon acquired extraordinary influence over her.
 Miss Dunne arrived in Dublin Wednesday night with the avowed intention of seeing her unfortunate father through his trouble She was in terrible distress, but firm in her resolve to remain. Yesterday, however, her paramour gained access to her, and ordered her to return to London. She wept and im- plored, and even went on her knees to the scoundrel, but he was obdurate, and finally succeeded in so bending her to his will that she obeyed his every word aud gesture.
 It is comforting to learn that Mrs. Whyte Melville now sees Higginson in his true colors as heartless, ungratefuI, unscrupu- lous villain, and will do all in her power to help Capt Dunne. It is additionally gratify- ing to know that Higginson has made him. self liable to prosecution for bigamy, and that he will soon be enjoying the pleasure of penal servitude, unless Lord Salisbury should try to hush matters up in order to prevent a public recital in the witness box of his cousins shame and folly.
 Treated Like Convicts.
 ANDERSON, Ky, Dec. 23.-A gentleman whose veracity is above question, who un- xpectedly visited the Children's Home, one mile southeast of this city, reports a dis graceful state of affairs The children are